What does it take to win—not once, but over and over again?
Olympic gold medalist and USC Women’s Beach Volleyball head coach Dain Blanton knows. In this episode, Dain joins Scott to talk about the connection between consistency, mindset, and high-performance outcomes. From daily meditation and visualization routines to the importance of technical repetition, Dain shares how he prepares his athletes to perform under pressure—and how those same strategies translate far beyond sports.
Whether he’s coaching a championship team, broadcasting from the Olympic sidelines, or showing up as a dad, Dain brings intention and heart to everything he does. Tune in to hear how self-management, discipline, and empathy shape the lives of world-class athletes, and how you can use those same tools to lead your own team with greater clarity and purpose.
Listen here:
Show Resources:
About Dain Blanton:
Follow Dain on Instagram: @dainblanton
Explore USC Beach Volleyball: usctrojans.com | @uscbeach
Connect with Dain on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dainblanton/
Time Stamps:
(02:13) What Makes a Great Coach? Consistency Over Intensity
(06:26) Teaching Athletes to Lead Themselves
(08:14) Meditation + Visualization: Dain’s Daily Edge
(10:32) You Don’t Rise to the Occasion—You Fall to Your Training
(19:05) Coaching Gen Z: Trust First, Then Technique
(24:36) Spotting the Wrong Fit—and What to Do About It
(29:27) What Makes a Great Playing Partner?
(33:22) Winning Olympic Gold: The Moment That Changed Everything
(39:09) Communicating With Truth, Trust, and Adaptability
(46:41) Staying Ahead of Aging With Fitness and Focus
(52:00) Coachable Moment
Show Transcript:
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The post What Champions Do Differently, with Dain Blanton first appeared on The Eblin Group.
